“We’re very proud this is our first student chapter for IDS. It’s very large and very exciting,” Kyle said.

The IDS is an organization with a focus on residential design with more than 4,000 members globally. The LU chapter is a model for future student chapters at other colleges and universities. Membership in IDS helps Interior Design students advance their career, obtain CQRID (Council for Qualification of Residential Interior Designers) credentialing, network globally and receive discounts and other special benefits.

Often described as “the designing doctor,” Kyle has 39 years of experience in the interior design industry. She encouraged Liberty’s design students to pursue their dreams and goals in the field.

“We are in a recession, but don’t let that scare you,” she said. “What will get you through this is what you are doing today — getting your education, ideas, dreams and goals and actually living them.”

Kyle then introduced students to the new 3Dream website, giving them a “hands-on” opportunity to create digital blueprints of rooms and edit each one with architectural structures, fabrics and wall colors.

In addition to her work with IDS, Kyle is a professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers, the executive director of Dewey Color Instructor and is on the national board for Windows Covering Association of America. She has also the produced and hosted her own television shows, including Moments with Margi and Let’s Build a House.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Liberty's Family & Consumer Sciences Departmentis experiencing considerable growth, increasing student enrollment by 10 percent in the last year alone. In addition to Interior Design, the department offers majors in Fashion Merchandising, Family & Child Development, Family & Consumer Sciences, and Family & Consumer Sciences with teacher licensure. Numerous minors are also offered.